Full automatic orientator



4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 2, 41941. E. w. CARROLL FULL AUTOMATIC ORIENTATOR Original Filed June 1, 1938 AT TOPNE KS.

Sept. 2, 1941.

E. w. CARROLL FULL AUTOMATIC ORIENTTOR Original Filed June 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T TOPNEYS.

Sept 2, 1941- E. W. SARROLI. x .2,254,594

FULL AUTOMATIC ORIENTAT'OR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June l, 1958 [NVE/vree ELLswoRrH IM CARROLL ATTO/2N KAS.

Patented Sept. 2, 1941 FULL AUTOMATIC onmN'rA'roa Ellsworth W. Carroll. San Francisco, Calif., as-

signor to S- W Fine Foods, Inc.,

San

Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Original application June l, 1938, Serial No.

211,140. Divided and this application November 13, 1939, Serial No. 304,108

17 Claims.

in haphazardly), orientate the stem indent to a y predetermined position in relation to the machine and deliver the fruit to a pitting machine in this same predetermined relative position.

Another object is to provide a machine'which will in addition to the above, inspect the fruit for proper orientation, reject the non-orientated fruit and deliver the properly orientated fruit as above.

Another object is to provide a machine which will in addition to all the foregoing, orientate the seam which .is characteristic of such fruit as peaches andv apricots, inspect the fruit for properiy orientated seams. reject the fruit having e non-orientated seams and deliver the orientated fruit to a pitting machine with the seams and stemindent in proper position (relative to the machine) for pitting.

Another object is to provide a machine which i will sever the tips from fruit such as peaches.

Another object is to provide a hopper which will insure an extremely slow but absolutely uniform delivery of contents and more especially when the contents are non-rigid bodies such as fruit.

i Another object is to provide an invention which will be equally well adapted to orientating fruit to a vertical, horizontal, or to any other position of the major axis of the fruit, thereby making this invention practical for use on any type of pitting machine.

Other objects and advantages will be evident to those skilled in this art.

The mechanism to be first described is particularly adapted for use with that type of pitting machine having a reciprocating feed bar pushing the fruit along a track consisting of two" knife-like guidewaysembedded in the meat of the fruit, and` in which the fruit is held with its major axis (that is, a line' passing'through the blossom end and the stem end) in a horizontal position while removing the pits.

The mechanism shown for severing the tipsv and locating the side seams of such fruitas peaches would obviously be omitted when building a machine to orientate fruit which does not have such characteristics', without departing from the spiritof this invention.

I will later .on describe a mechanism more particularly adapted to orientate fruit to a stem downward position, and to inspect for proper orientation in this position.

The changes necessary to the mechanism shown to orientate fruit/:to any other relative position are comparatively simple and will be readily understood by those skilled in this art.

For a better understanding of /the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation, preferred embodi ments thereof.

In the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of this machine with the front wall removed.

Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view of this machine, but with the extreme upper superstructure removed,

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view showing those parts which were removed from Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isa transverse vertical view taken at lines IV-IV of Fig. 1, looking in the direction shown by arrows. showing the mechanism of station D for orientating the stem indent to a horizontal plane.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical view taken at lines V-V of Fig. 1, looking in the direction shown by arrows, showing the mechanism of station E, for orientating the stem indent to the shown position.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical view taken at linesVI-VIof Fig. 1, looking in the direction shown by arrows, showing the mechanism of station G, to inspect for proper orientation.

Fig. 'I is a transverse vertical view taken at lines VII-VII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction shown by arrows, showing the mechanism of station H, the exit station.

Fig. 8 shows in perspective a unit of three fingers of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 shows the preferred construction for the periphery of rollers made from material having a smooth or slick surface.

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged view of the ends of the two lingers which ride the peach to detect the seam.

Fig. 11 shows an alternate construction of the orientating means.

Fig. 12 shows an alternate type of inspection and rejection means.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings I designates generally a housing within which and upon which the operating parts of the orientating 'mechanism are mounted.

The housing I0 is secured to and supported by the pitting machine, va part of which is shown at II in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1: Journaledwithin the pitting machine and extending into the orientator is the drive shaft I2, having secured thereon the sprocket I3 which drives the endless chain I4 having attachment links I5 which carry the plates I8.

Referring now to Fig. 2: The plates I8-I8 are provided with pivots I1I1 for the tongs I8-I8 which are biased inwardly by the C-shaped spring I 9 and provided with interlocking gear segments 20 to insure uniform centralizing action of the concave faces which contact the fruit 2I.v

In Fig. 1 the housing III is provided with bearings for the shaft 22 which carries the sprocket 23 for the return of the chain I4, which then aiilxed thereto. 'Ihe gear housings 43-44 are joumaled on the shafts 40 and are free also for axial movements thereon. Within each housing 43-44 is a pair of spiral gears (not shown). One i of these spiral gears is slidably mounted on the vertical shaft 48 which has a sliding keyway so as to revolve the gear with the shaft 40, but yet A permit of a free axial movement. 'Ihis rst gear passes through the hopper 24 in the direction shown by the arrow which has an oscillating bottom 25, hinged thereto at 28. This oscillating bottom is adjustable for length and secured bottom 25, thus oscillating the latter. The hopper 24 is also provided with a stationary bottom 38.

It is well known to everyone who has attempted to secure a slow and uniform feed of fruit (or other non-rigid bodies-l from the bot-t tom of a hopper, that the chief difllculty to be overcome is the fact that after the first few fruits or objects have left thehopper, the remaining fruit will be found to have formed an arch over the exit, thus stopping the flow. To

overcome this objection, the oscillating bottom 25 is provided to agitate the` fruit just enough to prevent these arches Abeing formed. It is also found necessary to provide a space where a few fruits can ride the exiting means (the tongs I8 in this case) free of any superimposed fruit,

this space providinga reserve supply of fruitA to fill any empty openings, in case the crowding or" superimposed weight at the extreme bottom of the hopper prevent filling all openings in the exiting means at the extreme bottom point.

As the tongs I8 are carried throughthe hopper 24 they are held open by a stationary cam track :t9-Fig. 2 (which forces the ends of the segments 20 inwardly, thus separating the tongs I8), tol

receive a peach 2 I-A in Fig. l, the track 38 being secured to the hopper bottom 88, all surplus fruit being brushed back by the brush 32 traveling in the direction indicated lby the arrow.`

In Fig. 1 the vertical shafts 48 are joumaled in the` housing I8 and restrained from vertical meshes with and drives its mate which is secured to the shaft 45, which is joumaled in the housings 43 and 44 and in the fork 43-A which is a part of the respective housings. The shaft 48 has fixed thereon the roller 48 which is preferably made of sponge rubber. Should it be desirable to use some other material, especially a material having a smooth surface, a serrated face is recommended (such as is shown in Fig. 9).

'I'he housings 43 and 44 are provided with the slidably mounted stems 41 and with coiled compression springs 48 which are just strong enough to give the desiped pressure on the fruit.

A thin, narrow curved knife is shown at 48, suspended by the upwardly extended arms 58 and pivoted at 5I to the frame 52 and having outwardly extending fingers 53 and also provided with comparatively light tension springs 54 to .bias the two knives 48 against the fruit so that when the fruit is. revolved by the rollers 48 all protuberances will be'cut oil'.

A plurality of tip cut-off knives 48 is preferl able, because the radius of the knives being fixed while the radius of the fruit varies, therefore the shorter the cutting edge of the knife 48 is, the less noticeable will be the result of this difference in radii. See Fig. 2.

Secured to the frame 52 are the stems 55 which are slidably mounted in the top frame 58,. and which have the upper ends bifurcated and pivoted at 51 to the bifurcated ends of the lever 58,

' .best shown in Fig. 3. 'The link 58 in Fig. 5 is pivotedat to the frame 58 and at 8| to the lever 58, the latter being pivoted at 82 to the connecting rod 83, which is pivoted at the lower end at 84 in Fig. 5 to the lever 85 which is secured to the shaft 88 which is suitably mounted for oscillation in the brackets 81 of the housing '18. The shaft 88 will be further described later on.

In Fig. 4 the quill 88 is mounted to slide freely on the stem 41 and in the frame 58, with a` collar 89 to halt the downward travel in the position shown. The quill 88 has a suitable mounting at the lower end for a series of radially mounted oscillating fingers 10 which are pivoted at 1I and provided with, a lug 12 fitted to engage the disc 13 which is secured to the extensions of the frame 52. (See also Fig. 3). The lower end of the fingers 18 are rounded oil.' and smooth, to freely ride the peach 2|and are held in engagement with the peach by the counterwelghts 14.

'I'he fingers 18 are arranged radially to contact one half the periphery of the peach 2| on the horizontal centerline' at regularly spaced intervals, and `are preferably arranged in groups of three fingers per unit as follows:

In Fig. 8 the counterwelghts 14 of the center member of the unit has secured thereto two electrical contact bars 15, but electrically insulated therefrom by the non-conductors 18. The counterwelghts 14 of the two adjacent fingers are equipped with electrical contact points 11 grounded to thehousing I'Il. The contact bars 18 are so spaced that minor irregularities in the surface of the vfruit will not make a contact with movement by the collars 4I, and the pulleys 42 75 the points 11, but so kthat a'major relative movethe lever ||4, having an electrical contact. point ment of the lingers 10 such as is caused by any one of the three ngers 10 of that unit dropping into the .stem indent will establish a'n electrical circuit. The bars 18 are' provided with electrical conductors 18, which are Joined together and led to the electro-magnet 19, Fig. 4, which has-a conductor 80 which connects with any suitable source of electricity, which source is also grounded to the housing I in order to complete the circuit. The conductor 60 is also provided with a switch (not shown) controlled by the pitting machine for interrupting the current while the chain |4 is being advanced, as will be described later.

Referring to Fig. 4, the link 8| suitably connecting the two housings 43-44 through the medium of the lever 82, whichJs pivoted at 83 on the bracket 84 of the housing I0,`with a slot 95 sliding on the pin-86, which is secured to the fork 43-A, forms an equalizing gear, which is common to each pair of the gear housings 43-44. The lever 81 is secured tothe shaft 66 and bifurcated at the opposite end so as to.en gage the collar 88, and thus provide means for separating the housings 43 and 44 as the lever 81 -is moved downward. Fig. l shows the electroi magnet 19 having suitable'brackets 89 and being attached to and supported by the housing I0.

In Fig. the armature 90 is ilxed to the vrod `9| which is slidably mounted in the housing I0 and provided at the lower end with a shifting fork 92 which is rotatably engaged with the groove 93 of the sliding clutch member 94, which is slidably keyed to the shaft 95. The sliding clutch member 94 is provided with a, cone clutch face at 98 which engages a mating clutch face se-` cured to the pulley 91 which is journaled in the bracket 98 extending from the-housing |0. 'Ihe upper end of the sliding member 94 forms a conical brake 99 with the mating member secured to the housing I0. The sliding clutch member'94 is held in clutch driving engagement by gravity as long as the electro-magnet 19 is not energized.

In Fig. 5 the hollow conical cup |00 is secured to the stem |0I, which is slidably Journaled in` the frame 56 and connected with a thrust bearing at |02 to the upper 4encl of connecting rod which is journaled between the anges |09 which are fixed to the shaft 95, the yabove mechanism forming an equalizing gear tomove the cup |00 and the cup ||0 in opposite directions simultaneously. These cups |00 and ||0 are biased toward each other by the spring ill and separated while changing fruits by the lever ||2 which is fixed on the shaft 66 and bifurcated at the opposite end to properly engage the ange |09.v These cups |00 and ||0 are preferably made with a conical included angle of and to properly hold the fruit when biased together by the spring and with the lever ||`2 in the shown position.

In Fig. 2 the roller ||3 is journaled at the end of the lever ||4 which is pivoted on the stud ||5 which is supported by the housing |0 to which it is amxed. The lever ||4 is biased toward the peach with a comparatively heavy spring ||6 mounted in the spring-seat ||1 which is a projection of 'the housing i0, and has ,secured to itself near the pivoted end ||`5 a com- ||9, which is grounded to the housing |0,"and

terminates in the fork |20 which rides thepeach" lightly. The lever H4 has an insulated adiustable electrical contact point |2| so mounted that when thepeach 2| which .is held and revolved i;

by the cups |00 and I i0 lhas been turned to that position at which the roller ||3 enters the stem indent, an electrical circuit is completedthrough the electrical conductor |22which leads to the to any suitable source of electricallenergy (not shown) which is also grounded to the housing i0, to complete the circuit.

The foregoing mechanism is lso constructed .l

that the contact points are separated by the light spring tension of the leaf spring |'|8 at all times except when the roller |13 enters the stemiri-` dent, at. which time the spring ||6 overcomes the comparatively light spring H8, thus forcing the contact points ||9 and. I2I together. The circuit thus completed energizes the electromagnet |23 which lifts the armature 90 which disconnects the clutch and instantly sets thev brake as has been previously described, and thus stops the peach. with the stem indent inthe predeterminedl position. i

In Fig. 1 the peach I 24 is shown in a section taken on the lines XI-XI of Fig. 2 and is held and revolved between and by the rollers |25, which are mounted with the housings 43-44 and shaft 40, and equipped with the equalizing gear as before described, as well as with an electro-magnet operated clutch and brake mechav nism such as was previously described at 96 and 99 of Fig. 5. In Fig. l the levers l26and |21 are freely pivoted to the housing 44 at |28 and held in contact with the peach by gravity. The lever |21 carriesv the grounded to housing |0 contact point |29 and terminates in a disc with a comparatively large radius best shown in Fig.'10, which also showsthe comparatively small radius of the finger |26. The iinger |26, Fig. 1, carries the insulated adjustable contactpoint |30 connected to the electro-magnet |3| by the electric wire |32. Thesepoints |29 and |30.are adjusted so that they will make contact only when av sharp seam similar to the seam |33 in the peach |24 in Fig. 10 permits thel small radius of lever |26, Fig.

10, to overrun the larger radius of lever |21.

.Thus occasional flat spots or bruises from hane of the seam entering short radius of the lever |26.

In Fig. 6, which shows the inspection station, the shaft 66 has affixed thereto the lever |34 pivoted to the connecting rod |35 which passes freely through a slot in the bellcrank |36- and paratively light leaf spring ||'8 biased away from -75 terminates in a ilange |31 which will not pass through this slot. The bellcrank |36 is pivoted at |38 to the lug of the housing I0 and has a pivot |39 to support the lever |40 and terminates. in a semi-annular seat 4| .to fit 'thev base of the average sized fruit when. the fruit i's beingheld in the tongs I6. The top of lever |40 is bent'and passes through the 'c nter of vthe seat |4|, while the lower end is piv`f ed `to the connecting rod |42 which ispivoted to the bellcrank |43which is pivoted on the lug extension of thehousing l0,

4 while the opposite end is pivoted to thel upright spacing bar |44. Y'

The spacing bar |44 is provided with a counterweight to bias the top of the bar |44 toward the left in Flg. 6. 'The tongs operating bar 45 must slide from the position shown, to `the left, approximately against the wall'of the housing- I0 and back again, this lateral motion being derived, through suitable means (not shown) from the pitting machine This bar |45 is so adjusted that when in the position shown in Fig. 2, it will engage the ends ofthe gear segments 20 and open the tongs |8 at all operating stations except station G in Fig. 2, which is shown in transverse section in Fig. 6. This exception at station G is accomplished bynotching the bar |45 as aty |46 to a depth greater than the travel required by the segments 20 to fully open the tongs I8. The top of the spacing bar 44 in Fig. 6 is 'of the same dimensions as, and registers with, the 'notch |48, so that when the bar |44is raised while the bar |45 is in the leftward position, into the notch |46, a movement of the bar |45 to the rightward position will open the tongs at station `G the same as at the other stations.

In Fig. 6 a downward movement of the lever |34 pulls the top of the bellcrank |36 away from the fruit |48 which is necessary when changing fruits, and the return stroke with its over travel permits the seat |4| to be biased by the counteromy to use this pre-existing cam shaft to operate and synchronize the orientating mechanisms. l

The functions to be thus operated and synchronized are, first, the endless chain |4 (Fig. 1) opening the tongs I8, raising and lowering the 4revolving rollers 48 and |25. thecups |881||8 and the guidewaysll. Also retracting the inspecting levers |40-|4|, as well as raising and lowering the frame 52, which carries the tip cutweight |41 to contact the peach |48 regardless of the size of the latter. When the peach |48 is properly orientated the top or bent end of the lever |40 will enter the stem indent and position the spacing `bar |44 as shown. However, should of! knives 49 and the fingers 18 at station D; all of'which must be advanced or operated inter.- mlttently as previously described.

Operation After a particular peach nally reaches the extreme bottom of the hopper24, or the free space between the hopper and the tongs, it will drop into the opening between the tongs I8 which are being forced open by cam 88, and becarried forward stepby step until it reaches the''station A, where due to the termination of the cam 38, the tongs |8 will grip the peach, due to pressure of the spring I9, Fig. 2.

The tongs |8 still gripping the peach 2| will on the next cycle carry it forward to the tip removing station at B, where the peach 2| ls clamped between the two rollers 48 of Fig.-l, which are no t revolv'ing at this time. Instantly, upon the completion ofthe chain |4 advance, five objects areI completed simultaneously. Firstly, the tip cut-oli knives 48 and the fingers 10 which are all carried by the frame 52 are lowered to position as shown in Fig. 1.- Secondly. the rollers 48 and |25 and the cups |88||8 arel advanced to contact and hold and later to revolve their respective fruits, being biased thereto bythe springs 48 and Thirdly, the inspection levers |40.|4| are biased to operating l position by the counterweight |41. The object fruit is fed to the pitting machine |I, only a.

fragmentary section of which is shown, having the stationary opposed knifelike guideways to guide and support the fruit.

The orientator has a short section of similar but separable guideways |5| registering when advanced, with the stationary guideways |58. The guideways '|5| are secured tothe stems |52 which are slidably mounted in the housing ||l and frame 56, ani positively opened and closed by the links |53 and |54., which are pivoted to the double bellcrank |55 which is secured to the shaft 66 and actuated by the connecting rod |56 leading to the pitting machine by which it is actuated.

Fig. 2 shows a push bar |51 supported and actuated by the pitting machine In Fig. l the pulleys 42 and 81 which drive the fruit revolving mechanisms are driven by abelt |58 which is interwoven between the various pulleys in order to drive each, and then passing to and back from the pitting -machine 'l I, by which it is driven (see `also Fig. 2).

The pitting machine of necessity has acam i of providing a flexible means for bringing the rollers and inspection levers into contact with the fruit is, rst to prevent bruising the fruit, and second to accommodate the variations in both size and pronle. Fourthly, the retractable guideways |5| are brought into a positiveoperating engagement with the fruit, the entering edge of the guideways |5 being sharpened to cut into the fruit as shown in Fig. '7, all the four preceding objects being controlled by the pitting machine through the rod |58 of Fig. 6, and the shaft 88 as previously described. Fifthmthe source of electrical energy for operatingv the| electro-magnets is restored by the pitting machine (not shown).

As previously described, the relative position of the detecting lever |48 to the seat |4| will be determined .instantly upon contact with the peach |48, thus setting the space bar |44 in proper position. While the detecting lever |48 is lbeing brought into contact with the fruit. the

tongs operating bar |45 is retracted so the space bar |44 is free to'enter the notch |48. As soon as'the foregoing operations are completed the pitting machine will advance the tongs operating bar |45, thus opening the tongs so the fruit is free to be revolved, or to drop into the reject chute |48 if improperly orientated at this station.

Upon completion of the above, the belt |58 is immediately started by the pitting machine Il and run far enough to turn each of the revolving fruit at least one and one-eighth revolutions by means previously described. However, the fruit at the orientating stations D, E and F, will be revolved only until the stem indent or seam registers with the detecting meanawhich will as the tip.

instantly stop the revolution of the fruit as previously described. The tip cut-oil! knives 49 should be set at a cutting angle that will not pare the peach but which will remove a protuberance such With two knives 49, as' shown in Fig. 2, each of which encircle slightly more than 45 of the periphery of the fruit, it is obvious that a full revolution of the fruit will subject the .tip tothe cutting action or either one knife 4s turned 90 in order tof revolve the fruit-accord-` ingly.

Operation of the belt |58 will simultaneously sever'the tip and orientate both the stem indent and the seam. At the same time levers |4||42 will inspect for proper orientation and the'pitting machine will operate the push bar |51 to transfer the peach to the pitting machineand return thepush bar |51 to the shown position in Fig. 7, all the foregoing while the chain |.4 is

at rest, and in accordance with the previous def scription.

Upon completion of the foregoing, the pitting f machine now operates to stop the belt |58 and to retract the tongs operating bar |45 permitting the tongs i6 to again grip the fruit, and also to disconnect the source of electrical energy from the electro-magnets.

As soon as the fruit is secured by they/tongs, the shaft 66 is operated, as previously described,

to retract all the rollers 66 and. |25, the cups,

lilo- 4| i0, the inspection lever |46, the guideways |5|`, the knives 49 and the fingers 10. As soon as all these have been retracted to clear the path of the fruitVthe pitting machine advances the chain i4 and consequently the tongs vand `fruit one station to the right in Fig. 1, thus completing the cycle, which is now ready to be repeated.

Fig. 11 shows means for orientating fruit to a stem end down position, which vis preferablein many instances. This figure shows afruit |60 which has just been orientated by the serrated roller I6 which is secured to the shaft |62 which is journaled in a lug (not shown) of the housing |0, and suitably and intermittently revolved by the pitting machine I through means not shown. The fruit'i60 is shown resting on the shallow concave, conical face |63 of the housing 0. The relative size of the roller |6| to the stem indent in particular (and the fruit being orientated in a lesser degree) is -very important, as is also the face |63 in its relation to the roller |6|. -The optimum relative size of the roller |6| is that which is as large as possible (to better revolve the fruit) yet small enough to project into the concave seat |63 far enough to revolve the fruit at all times when the stem indent is in any other permit the fruit to revolve, yet close enough to form a guide to retain the fruit directly over the roller |6|, which is then revolved in either direction and with it the fruit, until the latter has I reached the position shown at |60 where the roller |6| will continue to turn, but the fruit will stop, as it is now supported by the face |63 and the roller |6| is turning freely in the indent.

.In actual practice it has been found that the proportions shown in Fig. 11 are very satisfactory and that the fruit revolves so erratically that it is invariably properly orientated to a stem down position before the fruit has` made five revolutions.

After the roller 6| lhas completed a predetermined number of revolutions the roller is stopped, the tongs then close about the fruit |60 and are raised to clear the fruit from the seat |63 and the tongs are carried by the chain I4 as previously describedfto the next station and the cycle repeated.

Fig. 12 shows means to inspect the fruit for proper orientation (and reject all that is -not properly orientated) in a stem'downward position. In this design the frame |0 is provided with a lug |66 having a pivot |61 for the balance lever |68 which terminates at one end in the counterweight |69 which must be lighter than the fruit, and at the opposite end in an annularseat |10 to support the fruit |1|. An.I inspecting finger |12 is pivoted at |13 to the lever |68 and provided with a counterweight |16 which also serves as a latch and is iitted to catch on the pin |15 which is secured to andl projects from the lug |66.

In operation the vtongs I8 are provided with mea'ns (not shown) for a vertical movement sufficient to lower the fruit 11| into the seat |10 be- 1. A fruit orientating (i5-,posed rollers, means for depositing a 'fruit berelative position than down, as shown by the heavy lines |60. When the fruitis in this'position the roller |6| must also be small enough to clear the stem indent, so that when a fruit is l carried to the orientating station with the stem indent in some other position than down (such as shown by the broken line |64), by the tongs I8 while being clamped about the fruit as previously described, 'and while the roller |6| is stationary. the tongs I8 will then be opened far enough to fore the tongs i8 are opened. The linger |12 is so fitted that improper orientation of` the fruit |1| will raise latch |16 from the pin |15 `so that the improperly orientated fruit will be spilled oi the seat |16, which will then be returned to the shown position by the counterweight |69. A It Will thus be seen that I have provided a machine which while full automatic, will orien- .tate and pit fruits along a denite and predetermined axis, and thus mechanically perform operations heretofore only possible by slow, tedious manual work.

Furthermore, the uniformity of output is even better than with manual pitting and the production is high compared to prior methods of orien' tated pitting.

It will also be-obvious that uniform pitting along a definite axis -insures a quality of output which will bring high prices with the best eye value.

While I have seen t to describe my invention as applied to peaches and in a preferred form, equivalent means will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art or through the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: f

device comprising optween said rollers, means for moving said rollers into resilient contact with said fruit, means for positively rotating said rollers to rotate said ing rotation thereof',` and means controlled by motion of said finger when dropping into the stem indent of said fruit for stopping 'further rotation ofsaid fruit.

l3. A fruit orientating device comprising opposed rollers, means for depositing a f-ruit betweenvsaid rollers,` means for moving said rollers into resilient contact with said fruit, means for positively rotating said rollers to rotate said fruit, a finger contacting the surface of said fruit during rotation thereof, means controlled by motion of said nger when dropping into the stem indent of said fruit for stopping further rotation of said fruit, and means for removing said fruit from between said rollers in the positionassumed when stopped. v

4. A fruit orientating device comprising opposed rollers, means for depositing a fruitl between said rollers, means for4 moving said rollers into resilient contact with said fruit, means for positively 4rotating said rollers to rotate said fruit, a lever having a plurality of fingers ononeend thereof with alined termini presented to said fruit, resilient means for creating contact of said termini with said fruit, and means controlled by.motion of said lever when a fruit contacting terminus drops into the stem indent of said fruit -for stopping further rotation of said fruit.

5.a fruit orientating Pdevice comprising op fruit, and means actuated by a 'maior variation' tween said rollers, means for moving said rollers into resilient contact with said fruit, means for positively rotating said rollers torotate said fruit. and means for stopping the rotation rof said fruit when a predetermined variation of fruitv contour is in a predetermined position.

-9. A fruit orientating device comprising opposed rollers, means for depositing a fruit .between said rollers, means for moving said rollers into resilient contact with said fruit, means for i positively 4rotating said rollers to rotate said of fruit contour for stopping said fruit.

10. A fruit orientating device comprising opposed rollers, means for depositing a fruit lbetween said rollers,` means for moving said rollers into resilient contact with said fruit, means for positively rotating said rollers to rotate said fruit, means for contactingthe surface of said fruit at a predeterminedpoint, and means. for controllingfthe rotation of said fruit actuated by said surface contacting means when said latter encounters a predetermined fruit contour variation.

11. Fruit orientation apparatus comprising a frame, a vertical shaft mounted on said frame, a

`. clutch on said shaft, means for rotating said posed rollers, means for depositing a fruit between said rollers, means for moving said rollers into resinent contact with said'mut, means for positively rotating said rollers to rotate said fruit, a lever having a plurality of fingers on one end thereof with alined termini presented to said fruit, resilient means for creating contact of said termini with said fruit, a clutch between said roher and said roller rotation means, and means actuated by motion of said lever when a fruit contacting terminus drops into the stem indent of said fruit for disengaging said clutch.

6. A fruit orientating device comprising opv posed rollers, means for depositing a fruitl between l'said rollers, means for moving said rollers into resilient contact with said fruit, means' for positively rotating said rollers to rotate said fruit, a lever havinga plurality of ngers on one end thereof with alined termini presented to said fruit, resilient means for creating contactoi said termini with said fruit, a clutch between said -roller and said roller rotation means, a brake. `and means actuated by motion of said lever when e' a fruit contacting terminus drops into the stem indent of said fruit for disengaging said clutch and simultaneously applying said brake to said rollers.

7. A fruit orientatingV device comprising opposed rollers, means for depositing a fruit between said rollers, means for moving said rollers shaft through said clutch, a pair of housings slidable on saidshaft, a roller axle horizontally cxtending from each of said housings, gear means linking said axles with said shaftV within said housings, opposed rollers on said axles. means for positioning a fruit between said rollers, and

means for relatively moving said housings to cause said fruit to be contacted by said rollers for rotation thereby in accordance .with clutch condition. i

12. Fruit orientation apparatus comprising a' frame, a vertical shaft mOun-t'edon said frame, a clutch on said shaft, me shaft through said clutch, pair of housings slidable on said shaft, a roller axle horizontally extending from each of said housings, gear means linking said axles with said shaft within said housings, opposed rollers on said axles, means for positioning a fruit between said rollers, means for relatively-moving said housings to cause said fruit to be contacted by said rollers for rotation thereby in accordance with clutch condition, Aand means for controlling clutch condition actuated by a predetermined change in fruit contour as said fruit rotates.

13. Fruit orientation apparatuscomprising a frame, a vertical shaft mounted on saidv frame, a clutch on said shaft, means for rotating said shaftthrough said clutch, a pair .ofhousings slidable' on said shaft, a roller axle horizontally 4 extending from each of said housings. gear means linking said axles with said shaft within said into resilient contact with said frit,`means for positively rotating said rollers to rotate said fruit.

a lever having a plurality of fingers on one end '65 thereof with alined termini presented to said fruit, resilient means for creating contact of said termini with said fruit, a magnetic clutch between said rollers and said rollerrotation means,

-and electrical contacts actuated by motion ofsaid lever when a fruit contacting terminus drops Uinto thel stemindent ofsaid fruit for'controlling current supply to said magnetic clutch. Y

8. A fruit orientating device comprising' op-I posed rollers, means for depositing a fruit behousings, opposed rollers on said axles, means for positioning a fruit between said rollers, means for relatively moving said housings to cause said fruit to be .contacted by said rollers for rotation vthereby in accordance with clutch condition, a'

finger having an end bearing against 'the fruit surface, and clutch control means actuated by motibn of said finger due to movement thereof by a predetermined change in fruit contour dur fruit rotation. f

14. Fruit orientation apparatus comprising a frame, a vertical shaft mounted on said frame, a clutch on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft through said clutch, a pair o f housings slidable on said'shaft, a roller axle horizontally extending from eachof said housings, gear means for rotating said linking said axles with said shaft within said housings, opposed rollers on said axles, means for positioning a fruit between said rollers, means for relatively moving said housings to cause -said fruit to be contacted by said rollers for rotation thereby in accordance with, clutchrondition, a finger having an end bearing against the fruit surface, and electric clutch control means actuated by motion of said finger due to movement thereof by a` predetermined change in fruit contour during fruit rotation. l

15. Fruit orientation apparatus comprising a frame, a vertical shaft Amounted on said frame, a clutch on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft through said clutch, a pair of housings slidable on said shaft, a roller axle horizontally extending from each of said housings, gear means linking said axles with said shaft within said housings, opposed rollers on said axles, means for positioning a fruit between said rollers, means for relatively moving said housings to cause said fruit to be contacted by said rollers for rotation thereby in accordance with clutch condition, a finger having an end bearing against thev fruit surface, and means actuated by movement of said finger for disconnecting said `clutch when said finger encounters a predetermined change in fruit contour. v

16. Fruit orientation apparatus comprising a frame, a vertical shaft mounted on said frame, a clutch on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft through said clutch, a pair of housings slidable on said shaft, a roller axle horizontally extending from each of said housings gear means linking said axles with said shaft within said housings, opposed rollers on said axles, means for positioning a fruit between said rollers, means for relatively moving said housings tocause said fruit to be contacted by said rollers for rotation thereby in accordance with clutch condition, a ngerhaving an end bearing against the fruit surface, and means actuated by movement of said nger for disconnecting said clutch when said nger encounters the stem indent of said fruit. y

17. Fruit orientation apparatus comprising, a frame, a vertical shaft mounted on said frame. a clutch on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft through said clutch, a pair of-housings slidable on said shaft, -a roller axle horizontally extending from each of said housings, gear means linking said axles with said'shaft within said housings, opposed rollers on said axles, means for positioning a fruit between said rollers, means for relatively moving said housings to cause said fruit to be contacted by said rollers for rotation thereby in accordance with clutch condition, av

inger` having an end bearing against the fruit surface, and means actuated by movement of said finger for disconnecting said clutch when said nger encounters the seam of said fruit.

ELISWORTH W. CARROLL.- 

